Wasted Energy and Efficiency GCSE P1a

Energy never disappears. It is never destroyed. It only ever gets turned from one type of
energy to another.

However, it is not always turned into the type of energy we would like. A car is designed to
convert chemical energy (petrol) into kinetic energy (movement). But some is converted into
thermal energy and sound energy – neither of which help the car move.

Draw a simple energy transfer diagram to illustrate this:

The thermal and sound energy shown here are forms of wasted energy. Wasted energy
leads to inefficiency. Complete the following table by filling in the useful and wasted energy
for each of the things designed to convert energy.

Energy transferred by ... Useful energy Wasted energy

Television

Electric Kettle

Headphones

Coal Power Station

Olympic Sprinter

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 Wasted Energy and Efficiency GCSE P1a
Calculating Efficiency
To work out efficiency, divide {the amount of useful output energy} by {the amount of input
energy}:

ܷ‫ݐݑ݌ݐݑܱ ݈ݑ݂݁ݏ‬
‫= ݕ݂݂ܿ݊݁݅ܿ݅ܧ‬
‫ݐݑ݌݊ܫ‬

nb: The output can never be greater than what was input, so efficiency is always less than 1.

‫ < ݕ݂݂ܿ݊݁݅ܿ݅ܧ‬1

Worked Example: a 100W filament lamp uses 100J of electrical energy every second, and
gives off 10J of useful light energy, while a 20W energy-saving bulb uses 20J to give off 15J
of light energy every second. Which is more efficient?

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